During a violent storm on Monday afternoon in Essen, a 56-year-old man was struck by lightning and critically injured.
He still had to be revived at the scene of the accident by the rescue service, as the fire brigade of the Ruhr city announced.
The man was then flown to a special clinic in a rescue helicopter.
According to "Bild", the 56-year-old, who was walking his dog, was looking for protection under a tree when the lightning struck.
A police spokesman said: "The rescue workers had to resuscitate the man."
According to the fire brigade, thunderstorm cells caused high lightning intensity and heavy rain in Essen on Monday afternoon.
This has also led to numerous flooded basements.
The German Weather Service (DWD) had also warned of severe weather in the afternoon.
Heavy rain showers came from the west over North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Saarland.
There is a severe thunderstorm warning in the Arnsberg district in the early evening (level 3 of 4).
Serious damage to buildings could occur.
Trees can be uprooted and roof tiles, branches or objects can fall.
After that, the focus shifted to the north-eastern half of the country before the showers and thunderstorms hesitantly subsided during the night on Tuesday.